The Best Investment Advice: Diversify

What foreign market do you think is most attractive right now for investors?

LARRY ZIMPLEMAN: Since investor objectives differ (long-term growth, asset preservation, desire for income, etc.), it is hard to select a single foreign market as being the most attractive. There is also a set of risks, such as political risk, concentration risk, etc., that go with investing in a single foreign market. Emerging markets such as China and Brazil continue to remain attractive for those investors who have a long time horizon (10 years or more).

However, I think the best advice for the vast majority of investors is to maintain a well-diversified portfolio with a mix of developed and emerging-market exposures.

Larry D. Zimpleman is chairman, president and chief executive of Principal Financial Group.